Critic Reviews

When all is said and done, DK2 is a game that exhibits an exquisite balance between a terrifying theme—devilish monsters and hellfire—and an ironic sense of humor—narration and characterization. Even though DK2 shares the same ESRB rating as Kingpin, it seems a real shame that a game as witty, sophisticated and beautiful as this should be restricted from as wide an audience as possible. Instead, we will leave the masses with sensationalized summer headlines and content ourselves with one of the most aesthetically and strategically satisfying games of the year.

If you're tired of real-time strategy games seeming all the same and you're in the mood for something a little different, Dungeon Keeper II fills the bill with ghastly grace. The game carries a Mature rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board for a good reason and is definitely not for children. Aside from that, the only people who I predict will dislike this game are folks who feel strongly about Political Correctness; otherwise, run to your nearest store and throw this brute into your shopping cart.

What more is there to say? If you've already run through Dungeon Keeper 1, there isn't a whole lot of new stuff you'll see in the sequel, but it is still worth it for the 3D graphics and all the delightfully evil new scenarios. Anyone who hasn't played it is in for a big treat in Dungeon Keeper 2. The idea is original and the workmanship is excellent. There's something for everyone in this game-- from the strategy lover to the action aficionado. Don't miss it under any circumstances.

What really makes DK2 a joy to play is the design of the game, an unmitigated triumph of dark humor and creativity. Even in software mode the game is gorgeous, with beautiful lighting and spell effects and funny creature animations. But the real highlights are all the little things: The imps dragging fallen enemies back to your prison, the dominatrix mistresses torturing themselves to pass the time, the outstanding voice work of your dungeon-keeping mentor, the monster dancing when a casino jackpot is hit, and the sounds of the creatures, especially the maniacal cackling of a horde of homicidal skeletons. You could spend your time just watching this game and have a better time than you would playing a host of others. I haven’t had a better time playing a game all year.

Dungeon Keeper 2 is a fantastic game that distinguishes itself from the rest with its unique premise, solid gameplay, but most of all, the signature wit and personality prevalent in every Bullfrog title. Some people have complained that Dungeon Keeper 2 is just more of the same as the original, but the totally revamped graphics, better single player campaign, useful first person ability, and free form dungeon building mode say otherwise. Besides, why fix what isn't broken? It would be ludicrous to say that veterans of the original should stay clear of the sequel, because DK2 is a great game all its own. Well, the multiplayer was subpar, but like Baldur's Gate, we feel that this is the kind of game that really isn't meant to be played multiplayer and as such, shouldn't be docked too hard for that. We're pleased to bestow Firingsquad's Editor's Choice award on Bullfrog's Dungeon Keeper 2!

Both the lighting effects and sounds that build and recede as you walk about the dungeon are superb, with each type of room having its own special effects and ambient sounds. Likewise, each creature has specific characteristics and will face combat in his or her own particular way. Some are cowards, some Rambo-esque, some belligerent and yet others are eager (soon to be dead) over-achievers. Regardless of how you approach Dungeon Keeper 2, rest assured you'll be challenged by the frenzied pace and the frenetic manipulation needed to control all your creatures. But rather than be dismayed if you can't keep up, simply reload and try again, and again, and again. You won't be sorry you did.

While much of the game is taken directly from the original title, there is a decent amount of material added in the sequel. The new creatures, spells, traps, and rooms are all great fun and allow you more flexibility when designing your dungeon. The graphics engine is really amazing; the series never looked this good. If you liked the first title, the gameplay and humor in Dungeon Keeper 2 will not disappoint you. Bottom Line: Amazing new graphics engine. Gameplay is much like the original title, but with more creature types, spells, traps, and rooms available. Multiple play modes allow for nice variety and "my pet dungeon" mode allows you to develop at your own pace. An incredibly entertaining sequel to a highly original game.

Yes, the game at its heart is still Dungeon Keeper, as one would expect a sequel to be. Those who thought the original's gameplay was flawed in concept will probably find the sequel more polished, but tire of it quickly. It's also easy to see how a player who really wants an RTS game would be disappointed by the lack of direct control, or one who wants a world-building game upset by the emphasis on combat. Most players, however, will find Dungeon Keeper 2 to be a thoroughly addictive blend between the two. Almost as much fun to watch as it is to play, Dungeon Keeper 2 has a disturbing ability to put a smile on your face.

Dungeon Keeper 2 has actually been a pretty difficult game to review. First off, it's unbelievably addictive and I continued to spend hours playing and replaying missions (not to mention jumping into multiplayer competitions) long after I really should have been writing the review. Second off, how you will look at the game depends in a large part on whether or not you spent a lot of time playing the first title. While Dungeon Keeper 2 certainly looks and feels better than its predecessor, it doesn't fall very far from the tree when it comes to gameplay. Fortunately, since the original was such an amazing game, that's not necessarily all that bad of a thing.

Overall Dungeon Keeper 2 is a fun and entertaining game, but it's not such a far cry from the original DK. The single player game is the same over and over again. Once in a while you have to think and use a different strategy, but not often. Multiplayer is a bit more fun and tends to keep any keeper worth his salt on their toes. The improved graphics make the game more fun and playable, but do not an exceptional game make. The sound issues are a bit troubling and cause a danger of deafness if you don't take precautions with speaker volume. The gameplay was fun and some of the cute things like the torture chamber were worth a chuckle, as well as the in-game movies. Basically, you're just looking at Dungeon Keeper with a few upgrades. No significant advances here. So if you love archaic torture, depravity and just general all-out carnage pick this game up. It'll definitely give you a good laugh.

There is no real fundamental changes in Dungeon Keeper 2. Not as good a sequel as it could have been. If they would have just covered those flaws from the original, this could have been a huge game. Still, if you liked the original, you will love this one. If you disliked the original, there is no reason to try out it's successor because it changes nothing fundamental about the game. Perhaps Bullfrog will get it all right when they put together Dungeon Keeper 3 but in the meantime, Dungeon Keeper 2 is a solid addition to this growing series.

To start with, I never played the first installment of Dungeon Keeper - so I ended up going into this review fairly blind as to what to expect. As I opened the packaging and read (yes, read) the instructions and manual, my first thoughts were, "Here we go again." The only standard female in the entire game is clad in black leather (well what is clad is in black leather) and is billed as a sado-masochist. I was hoping my premonitions of a completely hormone driven game would be proven wrong.

Dungeon Keeper 2 is fine for deaf gamers. The cutscenes are subtitled and verbal messages you receive appear as text messages, indicated by flashing 'i' icon at the bottom of the screen. These messages can be read in your own time too which is always a bonus.

In the end, I ended up not caring all that much that DK2 wasn't so far removed from the original. After all, there's only so far Bullfrog could have gone without making it a completely new title. The things I enjoyed were the new graphics and gameplay elements, improved combat implementation, My Pet Dungeon... The list goes on. The only people who will be disappointed are those who expect something wholly different from the original. If you are looking for wholesale improvements to a concept that already worked or missed the original and are ready for something different, look no further than DK2.

There's something immediately unsettling whenever Bullfrog turns out sequels. Best known for its original game designs like Populous, Syndicate, and Theme Park, the mere thought of Bullfrog working with an already-existing concept instead of introducing an entirely new one makes sequels such as Dungeon Keeper 2 seem less ambitious than their innovative predecessors. All the same, the original Dungeon Keeper, a real-time strategy game in which you'd construct a subterranean labyrinth within whose corridors you'd kill the goodly heroes looking to rid their land of the likes of wretches such as yourself, was one of Bullfrog's best ideas in years.

There’s a lot of stuff to remember in Dungeon Keeper II. It’s all point and click! So the only problem is remembering what icon does what and where the hell its located. This can become very frustrating when you’re in the heat of battle and you can’t find that damn spell you need!!!